Cut-rate Fellaini forfeits £4m in United move

MAROUANE FELLAINI agreed to sacrifice £4 million to ensure his move from Everton to Manchester United went through.

Marouane Fellaini has joined old manager David Moyes at Manchester United in a last-minute deal

United insist they have paid Everton no more than the £23.5m release clause that was in Fellaini’s contract – a clause that expired at the end of July – but Everton say the deal is worth £27.5m to them. The difference is understood to be Fellaini’s own cash sacrifice.

By submitting a written transfer request on deadline day Fellaini, left, has forfeited about £4m in loyalty bonuses that would have been due on the two years remaining on his Everton contract . That has allowed Everton to declare the deal as being worth £27.5m to them.

Fellaini will make up for his lost bonuses over the course of the four-year contract he has signed at United, which has seen his wages jump by £50,000-a-week to £125,000-a-week.

But the frantic deadline-day move, which saw Fellaini hand in a transfer request to Everton manager Roberto Martinez, underlined the player’s determination to move.

Fellaini's deal is worth £27.5 million to Roberto Martinez at Everton

He is not the first top player to forfeit a multi-million-pound bonus to secure a move. Manchester City’s Fernandinho also forfeited £4m to smooth his £30m transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk in June.

Being a Manchester United player is something that every player dreams of

Marouane Fellaini

Fellaini becomes the fourth most expensive player in United’s history – five years after Moyes made him Everton’s record signing when he bought him for £16.5m from Standard Liege.

Fellaini said: “I am thrilled to sign for Manchester United. I have known the manager for many years and I have a lot of respect for his way of working. When I was given the opportunity to work with him again, I jumped at the chance.

“I had a fantastic time at Everton and I’d like to thank all the fans and staff there for everything they have done for me.

“But being a Manchester United player is something that every player dreams of and I believe that I can make a real contribution to the team’s efforts to win trophies in the future.”